Gintei Japanese restaurant

Japanese restaurant · San Bruno

Gintei Japanese restaurant

Japanese restaurant · San Bruno

2

235 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066

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Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null
Gintei Japanese restaurant by null

Highlights

Gintei is a chic Japanese gem serving top-notch sushi and omakase that blends quality with a minimalist vibe—definitely worth a trip!  

Featured on Michelin
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235 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066 Get directions

gintei.co
@ginteisushi

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

235 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066 Get directions

+1 650 636 4135
gintei.co
@ginteisushi

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 22, 2025

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@michelinguide

Gintei

"Set back in an ordinary strip mall, the vibe and service at this sushi jewel are anything but. Wonderful, warm, and gracious, diners here are in for a treat. The interior is sleek and stylish, with dramatic pressed-tin ceilings and a coveted eight-seat counter. Naturally, reservations are a must, especially for the omakase, complete with items that can hang with the best in San Fran.Fans of nigiri should make a beeline for the chef's selection, but the more discerning palate will revel in market specials, like silky Hokkaido scallops, sweet and succulent live spot prawns (with the traditional deep-fried heads alongside), as well as firm yet delectable octopus. Everything is minimally dressed—all the better to accentuate the product's supreme quality." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/california/san-bruno/restaurant/gintei
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@michelinguide

Sushi Counters Across California Perfect for Dining Solo

"MICHELIN Plate, Michelin Guide California 2019San Bruno may not be known for its Japanese cuisine, but Gintei makes a compelling argument that great sushi can be found here. There is a full a la carte menu of cooked dishes and maki rolls, but sushi and sashimi highlight the excellent quality fish from California and Tokyo. The restaurant also offers a very reasonably-priced omakase of minimally embellished fish." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/dining-out/sushi-counters-across-california-perfect-for-dining-solo
View Postcard for Gintei Japanese restaurant

Willis Wah

Google
We really wanted to like this place and choose them for our anniversary, but it was just okay. The omakase was disappointing as it didn't feel like a good value, and the other dishes were just okay. Took forever for them to get our credit card, so we just sat there for a while until we flagged them down. Overall not a bad experience but expected more for the money.

Valeriy K

Google
I loved this place very much. I was a bit skeptical when we just arrived due to the location but the restaurant was great. Very tasty food, excellent service.

Billy Lee

Google
I can confidently say this is the best sushi restaurant in the bay. I’ve tried so many various sushi places and all of them are pretty bad, this place is easily top 3, honestly top 1 for me in terms of quality of the sushi, my friends and I ordered every special roll and they were all bangers. Service is great too and inside is very clean and modern. Only downside is the pretty limited parking outside. Highly recommend!

Jules Fortlage

Google
Great Sushi! I’m from San Francisco and recently moved away, but had a long layover at SFO - this was the perfect place for a quality meal before a long flight. It’s not super big, I recommend making a reservation (it was full on a Wednesday night by 7pm). They have great fresh specials for the day, things that I’ve never even heard of before. They have the three sections of Bluefin (lean, mid fat, fatty belly) along with the standard selection of rolls you see on SF menus. Service was good, everything came out pretty quick. Sushi chefs were super nice and accommodating.

Karen L

Google
Perhaps a bad luck day?! #1 Waited more than an hour for a grill dish. Asked the server twice, been told it should be coming and no follow up. The dish finally showed up when we were ready to ask for a check. #2 Ordered an extra dish but the food was given to the table next to us until we asked again. #3 Kakuni was cold in the center but hot at the outer layer. Felt like a frozen dinner didn't heat up completely.

Jean Tsou

Google
Great selection of sushi and decent quality. They provide free sake tasting before placing the order. Great sake selections too. Omakase 10 pcs for $80 with variety of selections.

John Johnson

Google
They did not give us enough stars to rate this place! This is a fine dining experience right here. Some of the best hand-fresh prepared sushi I have had stateside in a long time.

Julie Taeko

Google
Excellent quality. We came here for lunch today on a Thursday and it was not packed; no need for a reservation. I spent a good 10 minutes trying to find parking behind el camino real though. The lunch specials were excellent. The menu is simple and elegant. The interior decor reminds me of when I was studying abroad in Japan. And the rice and ginger are excellent quality, and of course, the sashimi. Definitely worth it for lunch! Great service too.
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Alyssa M.

Yelp
We had the omakase and it was delicious and beautiful! 10 beautiful pieces of fish, all of them with unique flavor profiles (some delicate and light, some strong and fatty- all delicious). Our wait staff was super attentive and efficient, and the atmosphere they created was fun and welcoming. The parking situation is basically street parking, we didn't have a problem finding a spot a bit down the way. We came on a cold night and got the hot tea- was perfect to accompany the meal.
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Alex M.

Yelp
Looking for restaurant near our client's office, my team and I found Gintei through a quick Google search. Everyone was onboard for sushi, and the reviews looked solid. We didn't see an option to reserve a table, but we called the restaurant and were informed that walk-ins were welcome. When we arrived around 5 PM on a weekday, we were surprised to see that we were the only group in the restaurant. As a result, were seated right away. Since we couldn't agree on individual rolls to share, we opted for the omakase experience for the entire table. This set featured a starter of a flaky, white fish, followed by ten pieces of onigiri (served five at a time). Each piece of fish was elaborately presented, and our server explained the types of fish for each round. The onigiri tasted fresh, and each piece had the perfect ratio of fish to rice. I was very full after consuming all of that sushi in a short amount of time, but the warm bowl of miso soup at the end of the meal was just what I needed.
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Eugene C.

Yelp
We had omakasei at the sushi bar. The service was friendly. The chef would tell us the name of the fish but wouldn't volunteer any more information unless we ask. The sushi was served in relatively rapid succession. The pieces were fresh, and we had no complaints. They don't have an alcohol list for some reason. When I asked for sake, the server asked us for our preference and offered a recommendation. I had to ask to get the price of the bottle. It is reasonable, but it's weird that the price was not given. I had high hopes of making this our go-to sushi place, but it failed to reach our expectations this time. I am willing to give it another try and order a la carte.
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Eric L.

Yelp
I wanted to love this place - and I couldn't. The omakase is a fantastic value (given the quality of the fish, it's one of the best deals in the Bay Area). But service was too fast. I was in and out in less than an hour, even after ordering the 10-piece omakase and adding a number of other additional items. And given the place was mostly empty, there was no real need to rush what I've often felt should be a slow, patient meal. Instead, as I'm biting one piece, the chef is already making the next one. SLOW DOWN. It's an expensive, special occasion. The restaurant itself is sparse; that's typical of these omakase spots, but there's a lot of tables as well... Parking is challenging (though I did manage to secure one of the only two spots outside the restaurant). I won't go back - i just felt too rushed to really enjoy the meal. And that's disappointing because the fish itself is great.
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Derek S.

Yelp
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Gintei is featured in the Michelin guide. Dining is indoors exclusively either at the bar, or indoors. Street parking is available. There appears to be 1-2 spaces to park in front of the restaurant. Started off with the salmon toro carpaccio and it was okay. The salmon appears to have been partially cooked. The sauce and the bed of vegetables were tasty. The seafood tempura was fantastic. Batter was light and there were a couple shrimps, fish, and some vegetables. The tempura came with a salt and soy sauce for dipping. The chicken karaage was excellent. Chicken was very fresh, moist, and came with a side of mayo for dipping. The Daniel roll was also tasty featuring real crab along with some fish which was also quite tasty. Service throughout the evening was attentive and cordial. ~$40/head for a light dinner.
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Jen L.

Yelp
Every day, we pass by this non-descript restaurant located in a strip mall while picking up my son. We've noticed their white simple sign with black writing which is aesthetically pleasing but we've never paid much attention to the place. Recently we read about them in the Michelin guide and only then realized we were reading about the Gintei in our own little San Bruno. The building is tucked away in a strip mall and the door and windows are very non-descript. When pulling up front, I wasn't even sure I was at the right place. There are a few parking spots in front but parking was sparse in the area on a Sunday evening. We arrived late for 6pm reservations and were quickly greeted by friendly staff to let us know it would be a minute. The place was packed and we took the last available table. It was a very inviting place, very nicely decorated, charming and pleasant. Once we were taken to a table, I asked for a Sprite before we even sat down. My son's sugars were dropping. Without hesitation or questions or comments, not even a face, the server quickly brought me the Sprite. We perused their menu and decided to slowly order and try different things. Eventually we had the fish board brought to us so we could learn about the offerings for the evening. They had quite a large selection of fresh fish so it was difficult to decide. We ended up ordering a few dishes at a time to try and coursed out the evening and enjoyed it with a sake flight. To start off, we had Grilled Beef Tongue, a Tataki, Kurobuta Kukuni, Nyumen, and Oyster Shooters. Then Amaebi, Camino Roll, and two kinds of raw Tokyo Fish. Everything was delicious. The broth in the Nyumen was really tasty and it came out hot. The sake flight I had was so yummy, I had a hard time deciding which sake I liked more. The best part of the meal was the service. Everyone was friendly and attentive. The manager (or maybe owner) spoke Cantonese and Japanese. She spoke to us in Cantonese and entertained my husband's attempts so that always makes me happy. They came by to pick up plates as soon as you were done. We loved our meal. We will surely be back soon!
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Luna H.

Yelp
Food and service were good. No parking in front so need to park on the street. It's not bad but nothing really blowed my mind as the price is actually high. Low cost-performance ratio.
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Bo N.

Yelp
Omakase: 7/10, fresh and good but didn't blow me away Edamame: 6/10, standard edamame with no additional flavoring Nyumen: 6/10 Ohitashi: N/A we ordered but I didn't try California roll: 4/10 Kara-age: 6/10 Special fish: - otoro: 6/10 - amaebi: 4/10, fried portion was oily, breading was too thick, and it did not have enough salt. Raw portion was good - aji: 6/10
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Malina A.

Yelp
Went there for my boyfriend's birthday and we loved it! We sat at the sushi bar and each got the omakase set. This was our first time having an omakase tasting and it did not disappoint. There were 10 pieces in each set selected by chef's choice and we really enjoyed the experience of each piece coming out one by one. The sushi itself was very fresh. My favorite was the sweet shrimp, but my boyfriend loved the amber jack. The omakase set pairs really well with the sake flight. We chose the seasonal one and it was a great range of sweet to dry options. They also gave us a glass of our favorite one after trying them all. The only thing was that parking can be difficult as they don't have their own parking lot and there is only street/residential parking around. Overall, this is a great place for date night and we would definitely come back again!
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Ranjan P.

Yelp
This is your ticket to authentic. Spanking fresh pristine fish, sushi, nigiri, sashimi, rolls and tempura plus other specials of the day, written on their board. Spartan clean minimalist interior with the most warm, welcoming attentive service ever, a smiling woman greeted us and ushered us to a corner table. We got their grilled mackerel, plus a host of other nigiri, very buttery and decadent, salmon belly couldn't have been more mouthful and unctuous. Their house salad with pickled cucumbers was fine, but wouldn't get it again, was a bit too heavy on the soy. Parking is free and easy up front with their dedicated mini spot. It's right off of El Camino and yif you drive too fast, you'll miss it. Tiny spot but worth a visit.
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Peter S.

Yelp
Amazing food, service, and romantic/quiet ambiance. The quality of the food is top notch (best I've had south of S.F.) and very accessible to the airport. Highly recommend coming here. They have an extensive rice wine list as well. Trust the chef- order omakase.
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Erik N.

Yelp
We were greeted warmly by the staff upon arrival. Despite having a reservation, the seating process was rather casual as we weren't asked to confirm our name. The menu offered several intriguing options, but we decided to try a variety of individual dishes. The Hokkaido Uni nigiri was exceptional, both in terms of freshness and presentation. Unfortunately, the presence of undercooked rice diminished the overall enjoyment of the dish. Similarly, the silver skin fish tasting plate was compromised by the same issue. The chicken tatsuta-age was a standout dish, and the service throughout our meal was commendable. The staff was attentive and ensured our needs were met. While we enjoyed some of the dishes, we felt the overall value could be improved, especially considering the pricing. Additionally, the $105 omakase option seemed overpriced without the benefit of a full bar experience and chef interaction.
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Chelsea B.

Yelp
Everything was delicious!! Service was nice. Ambiance was relaxing. They know how to deep fry a roll without cooking the roll inside! PERFECTIONNNN ALSO everything was great quality :) id recommend this place to everyone
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Jacqueline N.

Yelp
I love trying out sushi restaurants in the Bay and unfortunately this one did not meet my expectations. I was excited to come here after seeing many tiktoks and reviews however the quality of the fish fell really short for the high price point. We got the omakase and each piece was average at best. I felt as though the fish was not very fresh and didn't have much flavor. We also got the salmon carpaccio which was the biggest disappointment. The salmon was not good and the yuzu sauce was way too overpowering and sweet. Definitely felt like they were trying to mask the quality of the fish with the sauce.. This place is very overpriced for the quality. I would much rather drive a few cities over and eat at Sushi Sam in San Mateo. Service was excellent though. The waittresses were very nice and patient and were happy to answer all my questions. Food: 2/5 Service: 5/5 Price: 1/5 Vibes: 5/5, very cozy and comfortable atmosphere Parking: 2/5 Very hard to find parking, had to park a few blocks down in a residential area

Kijun B.

Yelp
not good. bad quality sushi. they charged $40 for two piece of hokkaido uni, but didnt taste like hokkaido uni. it was very bad quality uni. sabo had bas smell, not fresh.
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Vivian Y.

Yelp
Score - 3.5 - rounded up for yelp Came for a weekday lunch with some coworkers just before noon. Parking around the area can be difficult. There's a few parking spots in front of the restaurant but they're all for accessible/ADA. We were lucky to find street parking around the block and just had to take a short walk to the restaurant. I had made a reservation on OpenTable so we were able to check in and get seated immediately. At this point, there was only one other table occupied. The server was very polite and friendly. We were given menus and a good amount of time to look over everything before he returned to take our order. There is a lunch menu!!! I had yelped this place before going and didn't see any posts of the lunch menu except one from 6 months ago so I wasn't sure they still had it, but they do! We ordered the sake oyako don ($30) and bluefin toro don ($25) from the lunch menu and the "I ate the bone" special roll from the regular menu. The sake oyako don was my favorite of the three. The salmon and ikura were very fresh and the sushi rice was well seasoned. It was the perfect combination. The bluefin toro don resembled a poke bowl with the avocado cubes and seaweed salad, and we all found it a bit too salty. The roll was tasty, with soft shell crab and fresh fish. The sauces on top melded well with the toppings and fillings of the roll. It was a very filling roll. Overall, the ambiance of the place was good and food was decent but not worth the price. I wish I was more impressed as the place seemed more upscale, but we were unanimously underwhelmed with the food. By noon, the restaurant was pretty full so I'd recommend making a reservation if you can but walk-ins would also be fine.
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Alden C.

Yelp
When I cruise through El Camino Real, I always drove past Gintei with the belief that this wasn't a notable restaurant from the outside looking in. San Bruno certainly isn't the first area I think of when it comes to a high end Japanese restaurant, but after seeing all the positive reviews and deciding to stomach the potential high price tag, my family and I finally went to try Gintei for the first time. I was impressed without a doubt. We came in with the mindset that we'll splurge on this restaurant one time and probably not come back because of how high the prices are, to "Wow, we are coming back for every special occasion moving forward" simply because of how amazing and fresh the sushi is here. Followed by how polite and hospitable the two waitresses were. They were some of the nicest waitresses I've come across and treated us more like friends than customers and always smiled at us every time they came by our table. A+ service all around. The restaurant was also very clean and had a very comfortable environment. Moving on to the food, the prices were certainly a little daunting, but there is no issue if we felt we were getting our money's worth and we sure felt it was worth it. We ordered the Sashimi Omakase initially and it was so aesthetically pleasing to look at. The level of attention to detail they put into the plate was impressive and you can tell the sushi chefs are real good at what they do. Every piece of sashimi you can easily distinguish from one another. The freshness and taste was on another level. We were so impressed we ordered another Omakase which was the Sushi Deluxe which was also amazing and came with some pieces being difference fish from the Sashimi Omakase. Even the miso soup that came with the Omakase was impressive. Both Omakase's were a 11/10. We also ordered vegetable tempura, the Camino roll, and the Daniel Roll. They were all amazing. The Daniel roll especially was great because real crab was used instead of imitation. 10/10 would order them again. After being satisfied with our meal we finished it off with black sesame ice cream that was plated very nicely and the ice cream had real black sesame seeds which I don't see at every Japanese restaurant that serves this kind of ice cream. It was very rich and creamy and it was a very satisfying way to end our dinner. You have to be ready to spend quite a lot of money when you come here and the four dollar signs on Yelp is an accurate representation of the pricing, but Gintei is one of those restaurants where I felt it was money well spent. They did everything well from customer service, to cleanliness and ambience, to the freshness and flavor of every dish. I'd recommend this place to anyone.
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Zach H.

Yelp
The best sushi I've ever had. Sashimi, rolls and even their tempura was amazing. Great sake and super nice staff
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Jerry K.

Yelp
This place is an absolute 10/10. The food was a 10, the service was a 10, ambiance a 10. Came here last minute on a Sunday night, busy but wasn't packed. Ordered the Omakase and was very well priced about $110. Great go-to sushi spot for great quality fish. Tucked away in a small lot. Will be coming back.
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Rich H.

Yelp
Some friends took my out for a belated bday dinner at Gintei a few weeks ago. I've seen this place many, many times but never thought about checking it out. My mistake. This place is a place one would find in the City instead of San Bruno. No offense to San Bruno, I live there. But, it has that boutique quality that would right at home in Japantown. Anyway, everything was excellent and extremely fresh. I haven't had Uni in a long time, because it can spoil very quickly. The Uni was awesome. I'll just let my pics do the rest of the talking. Without a doubt, my new favorite Japanese place in Bruno.
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JENN W.

Yelp
This has been my usual go-to old time favorite place for a long time. I usually love the sushi and drinks and ambience. However, I went yesterday night and was made aware that they charge a MANDATORY SERVICE FEE charge. Starting July 1, 2024, under Senate Bill 478, California restaurants are prohibited from charging service fees or other surcharges, which many restaurants have implemented to offset rising costs, unless the amount of the service fee is specifically identified as part of the listed prices. Disappointed that Gintei seems to not have followed this rule yet. So just be aware of this!
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Jenn N.

Yelp
Can we talk about how beautiful the presentations are? This was such a wonderful experience during my double date and I couldn't have asked for a better restaurant! Parking - it's street parking but wasn't too hard finding a spot on Saturday at 6:30PM. Food - 5/5 - wow the fish are so delicate and fresh! Everything looked superb and tasted delicious. The ankimo was my absolute favorite! We also various dishes but the presentation of the Sashimi Omakase was so colorful and vibrant. Service - 3/5 - honestly, everyone was super nice and accommodating! Unfortunately, we were brought out one wrong order and didn't even get comped for it (we asked for two ankimos and she gave us an extra roll). We felt bad so we told her to cancel our other order and ended up being charged for the mistake. We definitely don't want anyone losing their jobs over a small mistake but this bothered me afterwards. However, I love how they kept refilling our tea and water even though we were just catching up and done with dinner! Overall, great dining experience and I would definitely come back for the food!
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Daniel R.

Yelp
Food was fresh and tasty, however it's pricy, certainly not $$, more like $$$ or $$$$. The wine list consisted of one Chardonnay and one plum wine- I brought a bottle of Rombauer ZIN with me and they charged $35 corkage fee. What's outrageous about it? 1- most restaurants charge 15-25 2-they didn't pour or provide glasses 3-they charge tax on it and even expect a tip on that amount. 4-when you have a limited, almost non- existent wine list, you should charge much less for corkage.
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Bob K.

Yelp
A super excellent dinner tonight at Gintei. Tried some new things including: Steam boat oysters: amazing Nodoguro: lots of texture, but wonderful and creamy Waygu: luscious Chutoro and Kinmedai (old favorites) were also excellent. So good, again.
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Dustin Y.

Yelp
A bit disappointed. Perhaps I had a little too high of expectations going in with all the reviews. The food was decent but I feel the omakase is a little overpriced for the type and quality of fish provided. Especially with Amami close by with one for a fraction of the cost and bigger cuts... The fish was not bad but it's probably cheaper to just order them individually. Not a bad spot though if you want more variety of fish as they have stuff not available elsewhere but I can't recommend the omakase. Go a la crate for nigiri.

Mary C.

Yelp
A classy sushi restaurant. This is not the typical sushi place with rolls and tasteless sashimi that you dip in soy sauce. We booked this place via OpenTable a couple weeks ahead. It's street parking in a sketchy neighborhood. And the front door is set back so can be missed. One we walked in, we were pleasantly surprised with the simple Japanese decor and sparsely spaced tables. It sets a private and intimate ambience. The menu is simple. Our rolls We're done nicely with the right flavor and the roe, sashimi and sauce were intricately placed. The sashimi platter had a nice variety of fish including toro. Everything was fresh. We had the saba as well. Wish it was just a little bit more crispy on the outside. And would have loved to have the bones deep fried. No soy sauce needed. Wish they had real wasabi. The service was very good. The hot tea was super hot. It's a good thing. This is my favorite sushi place in the Bay Area. But with the $$$$, maybe only for special occasions.
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Carley-Ann M.

Yelp
Gintei is gold. It's on El Camino real in San Bruno and the interior is cozy. We usually snag a seat at the bar and order their omakase or grab a table if 4 of us are dining. Any larger of a group, I'd recommend making reservations on OpenTable. Luckily today, it was a tranquil Tuesday and seats were not an issue. There are a few handicap parking spots right in front of the restaurant but we easily found parking across the street. Today's order included: Kurobuta Kakuni: Braised pork belly with sweet soy sauce, sake, egg & horseradish on the side. We order this frequently and it hits the spot. It's a rich dish so best to share and eat all that sauce with rice. Chicken Tatsuta Age: The chicken was perfectly moist, seasoned and fresh (we both kinda burned our tongues, lol). This is also a regular item we like. And check out the quenelle for their dipping sauce. Gintei Deluxe Chirashi Sushi: The fish was fresh and the sushi rice was on point! They had an additional lunch menu and this item was being offered for $40. Not pictured is the fresh wasabi, super hot tea and green tea snickerdoodle ice cream which tied in the whole meal.
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Sau Y.

Yelp
Parking: nearly non-existent. Street Parking means you may have to walk a couple of blocks. Restaurant is open with plenty of tables. Bar has 8 seats. We opted for the bar but was told Omakase required. Service was oddly slow. Seated and left alone/ waited quite some time. Nigiri came as the chef worked, which was a good steady pace. Our miso soup never came and we had to ask for it. It was incredibly salty, but hubby liked it well enough. The food was OK to good, but not amazing. Very standard omakase, and there was yummy uni and toro added. The wasabi was a little heavy handed at times. Overall, a good option, but not my first choice.
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Candy T.

Yelp
First timer. Didn't make a reservation but fortunately they had a spot for 2 opened for about an hour. We ordered the Omakase and some rolls. The Omakase was amazing. I think my favorite is the otoro and the shrimp. The shrimp one had similar texture and sweetness as scallops but slight chewier/bouncier. The miso soup has a light flavor - perfect to start your meal Only downside of this place was trying to find a parking on el Camino during traffic hours
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Sharon S.

Yelp
How is it that we must've driven by Gintei hundreds of times over the years and we've never dined there? Hubby and I were craving Japanese and decided to give Gintei a try. We were able to make reservations on Open Table for a 6:30 PM time on a Saturday night. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly, but it took awhile for someone to come take our drink order. The restaurant was pretty busy, but not at full capacity. There were only two servers working hence the reason for the slow service. The food took awhile to come out as well. Hubby ordered cooked items - grilled short rib, wagyu harami steak, hamachi kama and veggie tempura. I went for the raw items - nodoguro, kasugodai, hachibiki (all from the daily special menu), otoro, amaebi, and shimaaji (from the regular menu). Everything was phenomenal even though I didn't get my shimaaji and was given sea anago and a different fish instead. I also liked the small amount of rice in each piece of nigiri. I ordered the daijingo flight, which came with three different sakes and a fourth one of your choice from the original three. Looking at a menu from five years ago, this flight was $36 so was shocked to see the $60 price tag on the bill when it came, but all good since I didn't check before ordering. Pros: - High quality, fresh food - Friendly service - Nice ambiance Cons: - Parking is hard in the area (we parked a block and a half away on El Camino) - Service was slow - Pretty expensive We are definitely adding Gintei to the rotation of local Japanese, sushi restaurants and I look forward to being able to give them a 5 stars in the future!
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Valerie T.

Yelp
More of a 3.5 star review but the service was great so I rounded up :) My fiance took me here for my birthday and we sat at the bar for Omakase because I love sushi! I know this restaurant has been around for quite some time but I haven't tried it until this year. The restaurant doesn't focus on just a nigiri/omakase experience, so we ordered other food but to be honest, the nigiri was all that was memorable. We ordered the Sushi Deluxe Omakase for $80pp that comes with 10pc nigiri, an appetizer and miso soup. The fish was fresh and the sushi rice was good, but it definitely wasn't the best I've had in the Bay Area. The fish pieces weren't of the highest grade/types of fish. Most were like mackerel, hamachi, salmon - more of the basic grade fishes but I guess you get what you pay for at $80. We ordered an additional piece of Wagyu at the end and that was pretty good at $24 for 2 pieces. I would personally skip ordering their ankimo cold dish and their oyster shooter. The ankimo didn't really taste like anything, even with the ponzu-like sauce it came with. The oyster shooter had actual sake in it (you have to be over 21 to order this) and it just didn't make the shot enjoyable since all I tasted was the alcohol. Normally it comes with a ponzu dressing that doesn't overpower the ingredients in the shooter. The service was amazing! The waitress was so nice and attentive even though we sat at the bar and she had tables to wait on. We ordered sake and we don't know our sake brands, so she let us try samples of each sake bottle before purchasing. I like how they can give us half carafe versus buying the full bottle - I am older now and not trying to get drunk but just trying to have a slight buzz haha. At the end, the waitress gave us free ice cream with a candle on it for my birthday :) so nice!
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Lloyd Y.

Yelp
I was a regular but am deeply disappointed by the recent visit. Mandatory *20%* tips for party of four. I was not informed about this until bill is given. Ordered supreme omakase. Food was not as good as it once was--fish has slight rotten smell even though they looked freshly-cut. Would avoid.
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Boss T.

Yelp
Easily the best sushi I've ever had. Subtle flavors perfectly complementing each other coming together for each course. Seeing Chef mastery up close behind the counter is just another perk of eating here. Reservations are tough, prices are high but the effort and cost are absolutely worth it.
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Justin S.

Yelp
Super delicious Japanese food in the peninsula. The service was exceptional as they allowed us to try from 3 different sake bottles before choosing which we wanted. The inside of the restaurant was spacious and there didn't seem to be much of a wait all night. Shocking considering how delicious the food was! My favorite dishes: Kurobuta kakuni Amberjack nigiri Tempura
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Alex J.

Yelp
We were searching for a place near SFO and found this gem. Luckily we didn't need reservations to get a table for four. What a nice surprise. Hubbies got the sushi deluxe and beer. The sashimi just melted in our mouths. So buttery and delicious! Our rolls were not a disappointment either. Everything tasted SO fresh. Even the color of the sashimi was glistening, you could see how fresh it was. The cut of the fish was perfect, not too thick and the rice underneath was not too sticky either. A must! Their miso soup was delicious too. It wasn't salty and came out nice and hot. Even their teas was delightful. A nice, smooth tea that was setting in our stomachs on a rainy evening. Perfect combination for sure. Would definitely go back.
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Helen H.

Yelp
Sushi is my go to. I picked this place because I saw it was on the Michelin guide. We ordered some sushi, humble guy roll, and Daniel roll. The sushi was fresh and tasty, sourced from Japan. I don't know if they have any dessert. They gave us the bill without asking if there was anything else we wanted. The restaurant was half empty, but the service was lacking.
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Amanda L.

Yelp
One of the best omakase sushi experiences I've had in a while! We were able to book through open table for a Tuesday night without any issues. My boyfriend and I decided to do the ten piece sushi omakase course and shared a Humble Guy roll. We had an assortment of imported Japanese and American fish, and everything tasted spectacular. There seems to be many regulars, and I definitely see why! I'm coming back again once I have another omakase craving. Only con: we did feel a tad bit rushed
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Cleo V.

Yelp
Food is always amazing. Freshest fish in the Bay. Amazing service and the omakase is fairly priced in comparison to the rest of the Bay Area. Parking could be an issue though as they're on El Camino but don't let that stop you because this place is super authentic Japanese.
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Eva L.

Yelp
Pleasantly surprised dining in here tonight. I've been wanting to try this place so long now and the anticipation was worth it! Everything I tried tonight was delicious. My favorite were the Nodoguro Nigiri and the Wagyu Harami Steak. Service was so friendly and the interior of the restaurant was beautiful. Will definitely be back again!
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Auggie L.

Yelp
Went for Dinner Food - 5/5. Sushi is fantastic! You can really taste the freshness of the fish, they are cut to a perfect shape to get an amazing mouthfeel and the rice is firm with just the right hint of vinegar. The rolls were also delicious with a good ratio of rice to filling and seafood that tastes just as fresh. Service - 4/5. Professional, knowledgeable and quick. Value - 3/5. The food is fantastic but the price is really high, especially for the amount you get. I don't expect to be full from an omakase, but most of the sushi has pricing and volume that is equivalent to a la carte. Even the rolls, which are all near the $20 price range, come in a measly six piece per order. Its a great flavor experience but you might feel some remorse when you spend a lot yet feel kinda hungry. Parking - Very Limited Private Lot (Free), Street (Free)
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Chris M.

Yelp
Such a random date night. We got 24 hours away from the kids for a wedding and had a red eye. So we decided to eat dinner by the restaurant and boy did Gintei deliver! The sushi was fantastic and the sake was so good. They were kind enough to let us try a few before we picked one. And the sesame ice cream?? Damn.
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Allen R.

Yelp
I happened to come across this restaurant as a friend flew in from SFO. This restaurant was close by and we went here for dinner. I have been back multiple times ever since and it has never disappointed. Omakase Sushi Deluxe is worth the price and delicious. Agedashi tofu is delicious. Buta Ni Kakuni is buttery tender. They serve Suntory beer, which is rare in itself, but only serves to validate that eating here is worth the trip and the price. We drive from Fremont. I'll be coming back for years to come.
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Maya K.

Yelp
We used to like this place, which was OK for the price, but lately the prices went up ridiculously high, with same menu and ambience. The service is so so, very dry. They have just one type of wine, just white. 22 $ for a glass of very standard wine is too much. They were out of the second wine- plum. Out of beer that my spouse wanted. The fish is delicious, but extremely expensive. 2 small pieces for 14$?! Fried sea food- very regular . You can get pretty same quality in a bento for at least twice cheaper . Overall- tasty fish, but thats all and very expensive. Not worth the price.
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Alicia W.

Yelp
TLDR: come for an authentic taste, but be prepared to spend quite a bit more. Vibes: The place definitely has the right vibes of a nice, hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. Not too busy, and kind waiters. Omakase: The sushi was great (nothing terribly stellar though), and we also got miso soup, fried shrimp, and a slice of fried fish as appetizers. Was definitely a little overpriced, as it was $80 per person.
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E L.

Yelp
When you charge $80 for Omakase, you are positioning yourself with immense expectations from the customer. Service 3/5 - sat me down and didnt bring tea for a few minutes. I had to ask for tea twice before they brought it to me. You cant charge people these prices with this kind of service. Decor 1/5 - chips on the chairs, the drywall is showing with damage marks throughout the corner of the restaurant I was sitting in. There were nails sticking out of the exposed wooded portion of the space. Omakase 3/5 - The omakase was good but not for $80 - that's entry level high end sushi restaurants with top tier ambience and service. The fish pieces were small, the flavor was lacking for the price point. Texture was good. The fish didnt look the part, they look dry but didnt taste dry so there is that. I was expecting service that would reflect the price of the meal. I usually get that with reputable sushi restaurants, however this place not even close to Amami across the street. There are a lot of sushi restaurants that are above average that will charge you less. This place is over price and will not last. If the price was more inline with mid tier sushi restaraunts and they clean up the decor, train the staff better, then they might have a chance.
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JohnnieD D.

Yelp
Amazing quality, authentic, great service The Chef's choice is highly recommended!
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Christy V.

Yelp
There's not to many good places for sushi during lunch. Found this place on Yelp. Wasn't busy but I still enjoyed the food. Everything was good and the service wasn't bad too. One best thing I enjoyed the chef said was when I ask if they had Hokkaido uni was " that's the only type of uni we carry". They were very nice both the server and sushi chef. We sat at the bar for the full experience. The only 3 complaints I have was 1st it isn't cheap but the quality was fresh so you get what you paid for. Amami gives you good quality Omakase for $35 vs $90 here. Next was the barracuda kamasu sushi was good but salty. It would be great if the salt topping was tone down by half. Last was the Omakase didn't include some kind of toro or uni which most places for the price ($90 for 10 piece) usually should include one or the other like hinata, amami, wako, sasa etc. would I come by? Maybe, depending on my budget and if it's lunch time. For my gf not so much. Overall, despite what my gf said I still enjoyed it and rate 4. Maybe my gf taste is off today or she of course had better sushi for the price like at amami and hakashi. In the end I wish this business the best. Oh yeah, we also ordered appetizers ankimo(so good must order), 2 oysters (must order), 2 oyster shooter(I liked it but not so my gf) and with the omakase it came up to around $275 tip not included for 2. I'll let you all judge base of my photos and review if you think it's worth it.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
My partner brought me here to celebrate a milestone at my work and it did not disappoint! I did omakase sashimi and the two of us shared a sake flight. I'm not a huge sake drinker so this was a great way for me to taste and explore sake! The fish was reallyyyyy fresh--some of them melted in your mouth. It wasn't really like classic omakase where the dishes come one by one, but rather a whole platter with like 9-10 different kinds of fish came out at once. My hubby ordered the sushi omakase which came with miso soup, but the waitress didn't want me to feel left out so also gave me one on the house. :) Ambiance was casual, clean, cool. From the outside doesn't look like nothing much but look for the hanging noren outside and you'll find it!
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Darlene D.

Yelp
Love love love! One of the best omakases that is not in SF and doesnt break your bank (depending on what you order haha) We had reservations for 3 around 7PM so no waiting needed! We were seated at the bar and ordered everything pretty much a la carte based on what we wanted to try! We ordered oyster shooters, chicken karaage, shishito peppers and a bunch of nigiri. Our favorite hands down of the night ( we ordered it twice) was the squid (IKA). They also have geoduck nigiri here which I havent really had in any of the omakases in SF. We didnt get an uni because the MP was $50 which is really expensive :( The truffle ikura was really interesting too! Very unique